Dogs find sanctuary during deployment

Laurie Lyon and Kevin McCartin of Cumberland County opened Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary in Spring Twp. in fall 2007. The goal of the sanctuary was to provide a secure, loving and comforting environment for senior dogs and for dogs whose owners were on military duty overseas.

Their success in adopting out 11 senior dogs, including two military dogs that needed homes, and the growing number of military dogs that will be housed at the sanctuary via the Canine Corps program, have meant the owners met their goal.

"We thought in the beginning that this would be the final home for many of our senior dogs, but we have not had one dog pass away here," said McCartin.

Because the owners of the first two military dogs knew their pets were in their senior years, and that they would be away for an extended time in Iraq, they told Lyon and McCartin it was OK to adopt them out.

"Both dogs were adopted to good homes," said McCartin.

Presently, 4-year-old Angus, a boxer/pit bull mix, is making his home at the sanctuary while his owner, Sgt. Brian Thomas of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is attending sniper school in Arkansas.

Thomas learned about the Canine Corps while attending orientation at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Angus has been at the sanctuary for almost two months. Thomas will reunite with Angus later this month until he deploys to Iraq in October. Then, Angus will return to the sanctuary.

"Angus is extremely friendly," said Lyon, who noted that Thomas calls to check on him.

"Most of our military dogs come from members of the Army National Guard thanks to 1st Sgt. Donald Bartch of Blain, who works in the family programs office at Fort Indiantown Gap," said Kevin. "Without him, this program would never have taken off.'

Thanks to Bartch, they have been able to reach military pet owners who are about to be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan.

"I talk to 100 soldiers a day," said Bartch. "Part of my job is taking care of the families before deployment, and their pets are part of the family.'

When McCartin originally contacted Bartch he was interested, but because he receives many offers for programs he needed to make sure that the offer was legitimate.

"I drove out and spent a few hours talking with Kevin and checking out the place," said Bartch. "I had to feel comfortable that he was for real. He was.'

As part of the soldier's orientation, Bartch asks them if they are in need of a home for their dog while they are gone. If so, he refers them to the sanctuary and gives them one of the brochures about the Canine Corps.

Lyon and McCartin have committed to taking seven more military dogs, that will be joining Angus in October when Thomas, along with a large number of other military, are scheduled to be deployed.

Also being deployed in the fall is Navy Lt. Erin O'Marr of Mechanicsburg who will be needing a home for her 4-year-old German shepherd, Ginger.

O'Marr adopted Ginger after finding her in a shelter while she was stationed in Spain. She learned about the Canine Corps through her father who read about the Paw Prints Pet Sanctuary, so she decided to check it out.

"Like O'Marr and Ginger, both the dog and owner are required to come visit the sanctuary," said McCartin.

While there, they walked the grounds, which include five acres of land, a garage that has been converted into the first housing unit for the dogs, and a large outdoor fenced in play area.

One reason for the visit is to determine how well the dog socializes.

"They must be both human and canine friendly," said McCartin.

When asked if she would be leaving Ginger in Lyon and McCartin's care, O'Marr said, "Absolutely, without a doubt.'

O'Marr will be deployed until June 2009 in the country of Djibouti, between Ethiopia and Somalia, in direct support of operations in Afghanistan where she will be serving as a meteorologist.

"I was looking for a safe and loving environment where Ginger would have room to play," she said. "I needed to make sure my baby was going to be taken care of.'

An experienced veterinarian technician, Holly DuPont, who lives in the house on the property, spends many hours with the dogs and makes sure they receive excellent medical care.

The Animal Hospital of Rye in Rye Twp. also provides free medical care for the Canine Corps dogs, and the Animal Rescue Food Bank donates a high quality dog food to the sanctuary.

By the time Angus and Ginger return to the sanctuary in the fall, Lyon and McCartin will be ready and eager to house them in their new steel building, which will house about 30 dogs. There will be pods or nesting areas where the dogs will be in home-like settings, complete with carpet, sofas, chairs, toys, play and exercise areas and eating and sleeping quarters.

"The dogs will be paired with canine buddies equal to each other in size," said McCartin. "Each nesting area or pod will have an individual enclosed outside run for access at their discretion.'

With seven or more new dogs coming in the fall, the sanctuary needs more volunteers.

"We would love to have volunteers from veterans' organizations to assist in walking the dogs," said McCartin.

Donations also are accepted and will be used toward the building project. Donations may be sent to Paw Prints Dog Sanctuary, P.O. Box 161, Shermans Dale 17090.

Questions can be addressed by calling 789-3236 or e-mailing pawsativ@hotmail.com. Lyon and McCartin welcome visitors to the sanctuary as long as they are notified in advance.